Polaris Dawn is a planned private human spaceflight mission, operated by SpaceX on behalf of Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman and is the first of three planned missions in the Polaris program. During the mission, the 14th crewed orbital flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft, Isaacman and his crew of three — Scott Poteet, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon — will be propelled into a highly elliptical orbit that will take them up to 1,400 kilometers (870 mi) away from Earth, the farthest anyone has been since NASA's Apollo program so that they pass through parts of the Van Allen radiation belt to study the health effects of space radiation and spaceflight on the human body. Later in the mission, Isaacman and Gillis are expected to attempt the first commercial spacewalk.
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Mission type | Private spaceflight |
---|---|
Operator | SpaceX |
Website | polarisprogram |
Mission duration | 5 days (planned) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Crew Dragon Resilience |
Spacecraft type | Crew Dragon |
Crew | |
Crew size | 4 |
Members | |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | TBD |
Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1083.4) |
Launch site | Kennedy, LC‑39A |
End of mission | |
Recovered by | MV Megan or MV Shannon |
Landing site | Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico |
Orbital parameters | |
Perigee altitude | 190 km (120 mi) |
Apogee altitude |
|
Inclination | 51.6° (planned)[1] |
Period | 106 minutes[1] |
![]() Mission Patch ![]() From left: Isaacman, Menon, Gillis and Poteet |
History
editThe Polaris program was announced by Jared Isaacman in February 2022, five months after the first all-private astronaut mission, Inspiration4, which was also financially backed by Isaacman.[2][3] Development of several technologies necessary for the mission is also part of the program, including extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits for private astronauts, intersatellite laser communication links between the Dragon spacecraft and the Starlink constellation, and some accommodation for the lack of an airlock in the legacy Dragon capsule design.[4]
Originally slated to fly as early as late 2022, the program suffered delays over the design of the EVA spacesuits and technical problems with SpaceX testing inter-satellite laser communication links. By October 2022, the launch had already slipped to March 2023,[5][6] and by February 2023, had slipped to no earlier than mid-2023.[7][8] By mid-2023, the planned date had slipped to sometime in 2024,[9] with Isaacman confirming in December a launch date of April 2024.[4] On 7 June, in an interview, Isaacman announced that the launch was scheduled to launch no earlier than 12 July 2024.[10][11] Three weeks later, the Polaris program announced on its X account that the earliest target launch date was 31 July 2024.[12][13]
The mission was delayed again following the failure of a Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage on 12 July 2024. After SpaceX addressed the cause of the mishap, SpaceX's Dragon mission management director Sarah Walker announced in a 26 July news conference that Polaris Dawn would launch "in late summer" after the Crew-9 mission for NASA, which was scheduled to launch no earlier than 18 August before its delay.[14] SpaceX then said that it was targeting a 26 August launch date on 7 August.[15] SpaceX pushed the launch date back a day to 27 August in order to allow "additional time for teams to complete preflight" checkouts.[16][17]
Crew Dragon Resilience arrived at the horizontal integration facility at LC-39A on 21 August where it was integrated with Falcon 9 booster B1083 and a second stage.[18] The transporter erector rolled out of the horizontal integration facility in the early morning hours of 24 August to transport the rocket up to the pad and erect it next to the tower.[19] The crews completed a dry dress rehearsal and static fire tests on 25 August.[20][21]
Mission
editTo minimize the risk of micrometeorite impacts, SpaceX mission controllers have a flexible launch window for the Polaris Dawn mission, allowing them to select a time with minimal debris in the targeted orbit. The Dragon capsule will initially be placed in a highly elliptical orbit, taking the crew as far as 1,200 kilometers (750 mi) from Earth and passing through the South Atlantic Anomaly at a low altitude of 190 kilometers (120 mi). This will expose them to the equivalent radiation of three months on the International Space Station in just a few passes, enabling valuable research into the health effects of space radiation and spaceflight on the human body.[22][23]
Within an hour after launch, the crew will begin a pre-breathing protocol to reduce nitrogen in their bodies and minimize the risk of decompression sickness during the planned spacewalk on day three. Over three days, the cabin pressure will gradually decrease from 14.5 to 8.65 pounds per square inch (100.0 to 59.6 kPa) while oxygen levels increase.[1]
During this first hour in space, the crew will conduct thorough checks of the Dragon capsule for any launch-related damage. If no issues are found, the Draco thrusters will fire, propelling the crew up to 1,400 kilometers (870 mi) away from Earth, the highest orbit of the planet ever flown by a crewed spacecraft, breaking the record set by Gemini 11,[24] and the farthest anyone has been from Earth since NASA's Apollo program.[25][4] They will remain at this orbit for approximately ten hours.[1]
On flight day two, the Dragon's apogee will be lowered to its "cruising orbit" of 750 kilometers (470 miles) while the crew prepares their EVA suits and conducts experiments.[23][1]
Flight day three is dedicated to the first-ever extravehicular activity (EVA) on a commercial spaceflight mission. After extensive preparations, all four crew members will don their EVA suits, which are pressurized with 100% oxygen at 5.1 pounds per square inch (35 kPa). The Crew Dragon will then be fully depressurized, and Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis will have the opportunity to go out for 15 to 20 minutes each to conduct various tests of the EVA suit.[1]
SpaceX designed the EVA suits for this mission based on the intravehicular activity (IVA) suits typically worn during launch and landing. The EVA suits are designed to keep astronauts safe in the vacuum of space while also being comfortable and flexible enough for launch and landing, eliminating the need for separate IVA suits. Flame-resistant, stretching fabric and soft joints provide mobility, while boots are made from the same thermal material used on Falcon 9's interstage and Dragon's trunk.[26][27] Compared to the IVA suits, thermal management has been improved and the helmet has received thermal insulation and an anti-fog treatment. During the spacewalk, a heads-up display will provide information on suit metrics.[28] An umbilical will provide life support for these suits, similar to early Gemini suits, as opposed to the self-contained EMUs used on the ISS.[29][30]
Since Crew Dragon capsules lack an airlock, several modifications have been made to the interior of Resilience. Extra nitrogen and oxygen tanks have been installed, a hatch with a ladder called the "skywalker" has replaced the docking port, and the forward hatch has been motorized. All four astronauts will wear EVA suits, though only two will exit the spacecraft.[23] This mission will break the record for the most people in the vacuum of space at once, set at three during Apollo 15 when the Command Module was depressurized for Al Worden's EVA.[28][29] Due to the unique depressurization protocol, the crew plans to conduct research on decompression sickness and spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS).[31]
To validate their procedures, Resilience underwent multiple cycles of venting and repressurization in a large vacuum chamber. The crew also spent two days in a chamber validating their pre-breathing protocol and wearing their EVA suits in a vacuum.[1]
The mission will also be the first crewed operational test of Dragon laser interlink communication via Starlink. If successful, it would potentially decrease communication latency and increase data bandwidth for human spaceflight.[32]
Crew
editPosition | Astronaut | |
---|---|---|
Commander | Jared Isaacman Second spaceflight | |
Pilot | Scott Poteet First spaceflight | |
Mission specialist | Sarah Gillis, SpaceX First spaceflight | |
Mission specialist Medical officer |
Anna Menon, SpaceX First spaceflight |
Isaacman will lead the mission as Commander, with retired Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet serving as spacecraft pilot. Isaacman will primarily operate the spacecraft, with Poteet acting as his backup. This role allocation is critical given the mission's inclusion of a spacewalk to be conducted by Isaacman.
Completing the crew are SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Mennon as Mission Specialists. Gillis, the company's senior space operations engineer who also leads training of private spaceflight missions, will join Isaacman on the spacewalk. Menon, a lead space operations engineer and mission director for the company, will act as onboard medical officer for the mission, tapping into her six years of experience as a biomedical flight controller at NASA, where she oversaw International Space Station operations.
Launch
editPolaris Dawn is planned to launch from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.[33][34] The first launch attempt on 27 August 2024 was scrubbed due to a ground-side helium leak.[35] The second launch attempt on 28 August was scrubbed due to poor predicted weather during the recovery period five days after launch. Because the mission will not rendezvous with the International Space Station and has limited life support consumables, the capsule must be able to splashdown as scheduled; this necessitates favorable weather conditions.[36] As of 27 August 2024, a new launch date has not yet been set, with SpaceX saying it was monitoring the weather for favorable launch and return conditions.[37] On 28 August, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded the Falcon 9 after a first stage crashed on landing, delaying the launch indefinitely.[38][39] Two days later, the Falcon 9 was cleared to resume flights while the FAA continues investigating.[40]
Launch attempt summary
editNote: times are local to the launch site (Eastern Daylight Time).
Attempt | Planned | Result | Turnaround | Reason | Decision point | Weather go (%) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 27 Aug 2024, 3:38:00 am | Scrubbed[35] | — | Technical | 26 Aug 2024, 7:17 pm (T−08:21:00) | 80[41] | Ground-side helium leak. |
2 | 28 Aug 2024, 3:38:00 am | Scrubbed[37] | 1 day 0 hours 0 minutes | Weather | 26 Aug 2024, 10:11 pm (T−05:27:00) | 85[42] | Poor predicted weather during the recovery period. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Polaris Dawn Mission Overview Briefing. 19 August 2024. Event occurs at 12:00. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ Davenport, Christian (14 February 2022). "Jared Isaacman, who led the first all-private astronaut mission to orbit, has commissioned 3 more flights from SpaceX". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth (8 September 2022). "SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn space crew talks about their ambitious mission". Space.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Foust, Jeff (11 December 2023). "Polaris Dawn rescheduled for April". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth (30 January 2023). "Polaris Dawn: The trailblazing commercial mission of the Polaris Program". Space.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Young, Chris (19 October 2023). "SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission could launch by March 2023". Interesting Engineering. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Tribou, Richard (23 February 2023). "Set for 2nd SpaceX flight, billionaire Isaacman all business about spacewalk for Polaris Dawn mission". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Lea, Robert (23 February 2023). "SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission now targeting summer 2023 for launch". Space.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (22 August 2023). "Polaris Dawn mission likely to slip to 2024". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Ellie in Space (7 June 2024). EXCLUSIVE: Polaris Dawn interview with Jared Isaacman. YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Space calendar 2024: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!". Space.com. 11 June 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth (3 July 2024). "SpaceX targeting July 31 for launch of historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission". Space.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ Szondy, David (3 July 2024). "SpaceX's first Polaris Dawn mission to launch after July 30". New Atlas. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Wall, Mike (26 July 2024). "SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission delayed until mid-August". Space.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ Tribou, Richard (8 August 2024). "With Starliner up in the air, SpaceX moves forward with billionaire's Polaris Dawn spaceflight". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ Rogers, James (22 August 2024). "SpaceX set for historic Polaris Dawn launch, first commercial spacewalk". Morningstar. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ Chow, Denise (22 August 2024). "SpaceX is set to launch an ambitious mission featuring the first civilian spacewalk". NBC News. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ @SpaceX (21 August 2024). "Shortly thereafter, Dragon arrived at our hangar at pad 39A ahead of Falcon 9's launch of Polaris Dawn" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ @SpaceX (24 August 2024). "Falcon 9 and Dragon roll out to pad 39A for the @PolarisProgram 's Polaris Dawn mission to low-Earth orbit" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ @SpaceX (25 August 2024). "Polaris Dawn and SpaceX completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ @SpaceX (25 August 2024). "Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration". Polaris Dawn (Press release). PR Newswire. 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Sheetz, Michael (11 July 2024). "Overview: Approaching Dawn". CNBC's Investing in Space Newsletter. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Tripathi, Sibu Kumar (15 February 2022). "What is Polaris Dawn mission announced by SpaceX that launches Musk's astronaut corps?". India Today. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Scott Poteet Discusses Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn Missions (Part 2)". 9 May 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Dinner, Josh (19 July 2024). "Polaris Dawn crew shows off new SpaceX spacesuits for 1st private spacewalk". Space.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ Howell, Elizabeth (14 February 2022). "Meet the four private Polaris Dawn astronauts SpaceX will launch into orbit this year". Space.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ a b Dinner, Josh (6 May 2024). "SpaceX reveals new EVA suit for upcoming Polaris Dawn private spaceflight (video)". Space.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ a b Foust, Jeff (4 May 2024). "SpaceX reveals EVA suit design as Polaris Dawn mission approaches". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "Polaris Dawn". Polaris Program. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Briley (2 July 2024). "SpaceX will attempt the first commercial spacewalk". Popular Science. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Starlink expanding, coming to Dragon capsule on Polaris Dawn, but NASA has concerns about the constellation". Space Explored. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (7 August 2024). "NASA Says Boeing Starliner Astronauts May Fly Home on SpaceX in 2025". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "Polaris Dawn". SpaceX. 22 August 2024. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ a b @SpaceX (26 August 2024). "Teams are taking a closer look at a ground-side helium leak on the Quick Disconnect umbilical. Falcon and Dragon remain healthy and the crew continues to be ready for their multi-day mission to low-Earth orbit. Next launch opportunity is no earlier than Wednesday, August 28" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Isaacman, Jared [@rookisaacman] (27 August 2024). "Our launch criteria are heavily constrained by forecasted splashdown weather conditions. With no ISS rendezvous and limited life support consumables, we must be absolutely sure of reentry weather before launching. As of now, conditions are not favorable tonight or tomorrow, so we'll assess day by day. As Elon mentioned, Polaris Dawn is a challenging mission with critical objectives, so we'll wait for the best opportunity to ensure success. Sometimes, the hardest journeys require the most patience, and we're ready to wait for the right moment. We know many have traveled to see the launch, and we're grateful for your support. Alongside @SpaceX, we'll do our best to keep you updated" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b @SpaceX (27 August 2024). "Due to unfavorable weather forecasted in Dragon's splashdown areas off the coast of Florida, we are now standing down from tonight and tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch opportunities of Polaris Dawn. Teams will continue to monitor weather for favorable launch and return conditions" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Harwood, William (28 August 2024). "FAA grounds SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets pending investigation of rare offshore crash-landing". CBS News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Lagatta, Eric; Neale, Rick (29 August 2024). "FAA grounds SpaceX after fiery landing of uncrewed launch: It may impact Starliner, Polaris Dawn". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Wall, Mike (30 August 2024). "SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket can return to flight, FAA says". Space.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Falcon 9 Polaris Dawn Forecast" (PDF). 45th Weather Squadron. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Falcon 9 Polaris Dawn Forecast" (PDF). 45th Weather Squadron. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
External links
edit- Official website
- Polaris Program photos on Flickr